Senior Child Welfare Specialist

Job Details
Job Location
Chicago and the surrounding NW Suburbs - Chicago & NW Suburbs, IL
Remote Type
Hybrid
Position Type
Full Time
Education Level
BS Social Work or related field
Job Shift
M-F varied hours
Description
Interested in working at Little City, Please follow this link; and type in Senior Child Welfare Specialist in the search engine.
This is a Hybrid Position
PURPOSE:
To initiate, facilitate, and perform a variety of casework related functions pertaining to foster care. To perform all casework ensuring the safety, security, well-being, and permanency of the children assigned to their caseload.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein is such duties are a logical assignment to the position.

1. Provides supervision of each child's foster home through home visits, including clinical support, upholding policies and licensing standards, issues regarding care of the child in their home and monitoring and providing assistance in obtaining services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein is such duties are a logical assignment to the position.
1. Provides supervision of each child's foster home through home visits, including clinical support, upholding policies and licensing standards, issues regarding care of the child in their home and monitoring and providing assistance in obtaining services.
2. As Senior CWS, staff will be responsible for the following responsibilities:
a. Serve as team leader related to case management duties
b. Provide training to new staff through shadowing opportunities
c. Provide on-going training to staff in internal team meetings upon request of his/her supervisor on case management topics
d. Assist in the supervision of interns upon mutual agreement of staff and his/her supervisor and program director
e. Forms a sub-group with other lead case managers to perform accelerated tasks, training, support groups, and agency recruiting.
f. Supports, organizes, and leads the CWS Training Institute with the support of the management team.
g. Implements finding resources and services to support agency clients and staff.
h. Attends LCM Meetings supports and leads the agency case management meetings.
i. Completes and edits SACWIS documentation.
j. Conducts under the direction of the agency management team case manager interviews.
3. Secures documentation from school, medical providers, and any other service provider to the child, and ensures all services are being adequately provided.
4. Acts as the leader of the team of service providers both within and outside of Little City in directing the care of the child and permanency goal.
5. Assesses case situations and makes recommendations regarding children on caseload. Makes recommendations to supervisor regarding critical decisions regarding placement, parent visitation, and permanency goal.
6. Prepares, implements, and evaluates the integrated assessment and service plan for all cases.
7. Attempts and maintains regular, ongoing contacts with and provides counsel and training for biological parents of children in the foster care program. Makes all efforts to establish a relationship with the biological family and assists the biological family in reaching reunification when applicable to the case. Makes all efforts to maintain a relationship between the child and his/her biological siblings.
8. Responsible for the upkeep of child's files which includes obtaining consents from DCFS, monitoring and completing case notes and securing required documentation for assessment and provision of services to child, biological, and foster family.
9. Responsible for implementation and coordination of sibling and birth parent's visits.
10. Assures that DCFS policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, rules, and policies are followed.
11. Writes reports, correspondence, and case summaries as indicated and necessary for proper case documentation and service delivery.
12. Work cooperatively with other staff in Foster Care, Children's Services, DCFS and collateral services.
13. Responsible for the facilitation of 6-month staffing's as well as attendance in staff meetings, committee meetings, supervision and trainings as required.
14. Represents the child's best interest in juvenile court, provides accurate and thorough testimony during hearings and trials, and attends all court hearings with thorough knowledge of the case.
15. Visits the child as school at least twice per year, monitors the appropriateness of the school setting, and attends all IEPs.
16. Acts as a professional representative of Little City during all interactions internally and externally.
17. Available for crisis intervention during normal business hours.
18. Responsible for all safety activities in your workplace and immediately report all accidents and safety hazards to your supervisor.
19. Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
20. Maintains annual Red Cross certification in First Aid and CPR.
21. Successfully completes Little City required training, re-training, and any additional training as required by Little City policies and practices, or as assigned by his or her immediate supervisor.
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in social work, or another human service-related field, required. Must be licensed in the state of Illinois as a Child Welfare Employee. Must be proficient in the use of a computer to complete all documentation, including SACWIS. Experience working with children with special needs preferred. Must have a valid Illinois Driver's License.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is subject to sitting, walking, and standing for prolonged periods; frequently grasps, lifts, holds, or feels objects; occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches, or crawls. The employee frequently is required to use manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination when working with persons served and handling office, medical, or household equipment. The employee is subject to assist and lift up to 30 pounds with varying amounts of assistance on a reoccurring basis. The employee is required to have corrected vision and hearing within normal range and the ability to operate a motor vehicle. Must have the ability to perform CPR and CPI. Generally, no occupational exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases or other potentially infectious substances, but may require performing unplanned Category III tasks (Category II). Typical office environment. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform successfully the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Disclaimer: The intent of this job description is to provide a representative level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.